“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” – from The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln, 19 November 1863
One of the greatest speeches in American history, President Lincoln’s famous Address was delivered after the Battle of Gettysburg was won by the Union Army over the Confederates. The Battle of Gettysburg is considered the most important engagement of the American Civil War and the turning point of the war. We arrived at Gettysburg National Park to learn more about what happened on 1-3 July 1863 and proceeded to have a superb day beyond what we expected. We absolutely recommend a visit here to anyone who has not been.
Our visit started with a short movie narrated by Morgan Freeman, giving us the background to the Civil War and the lead-up to the events at Gettysburg. Following the movie we immersed ourselves in a cyclorama painted by French artist Paul Philippoteaux depicting Pickett’s Charge, the Confederate attack on the Union forces on the third day of the Battle. We had never experienced a cyclorama before and weren’t sure what to expect. For those who don’t know either, The Battle of Gettysburg cyclorama is an oil painting on canvas measuring 42ft/13m high and 377ft/115m in circumference (longer than a football field). It is wrapped around the walls of a purpose-made circular room and as we stood in the centre of it taking it in, light and sound effects literally brought the painting to life as intended. It is brilliant. The painting, completed in 1883, weighs five tonnes, four of which are the paint itself. It was impossible to photograph the entire painting but here are a few shots of sections of it.
From the cyclorama we went into the museum which displays so much information it was virtually impossible to absorb it all in the time that we had. From the start of the Civil War through to the delivery of the Gettysburg Address to the assassination of President Lincoln, this museum is a treasure box of information and we wish we had had more time here but our day at Gettysburg wasn’t over yet.
Boarding a bus, we commenced a two hour drive through the Gettysburg National Park with our tour guide who all but gave us a one-man reenactment of the battle. We drove through the areas of the park where the battle took place, learning when, where and how the Union and Confederate Armies moved and attacked over the three days as well as seeing the cannons that remain and visiting the monuments that are placed throughout the vast expanse of the park. We have done many National Park visits on this road trip and they have all been excellent but Gettysburg was truly fantastic and so very moving.
From the battlefields of Gettysburg to the farming fields of the Amish…
We traveled to Bird-In-Hand, the home of an extensive Amish community where we met Amish folk, had a horse-drawn buggy ride and visited a farm where we learned how these devout Christians live and work just as their ancestors did despite the changes that modern society around them have embraced. The Amish are strong in their faith, believing that a literal interpretation and application of the Bible will bring them closer to God. Dressed in traditional attire and going about their daily work while enduring being a tourist attraction for just being who they are, the Amish who we met were friendly, engaging and very welcoming. We also spent considerable time admiring their quilting and woodwork.
On a slightly more personal note, one of the hardest things about being an expat living abroad is being so far from family, and the same rings true while being on an extended overseas holiday. A few days ago my aunt unexpectedly passed away and our thoughts have been with my Dad and my family in India as they have gathered to say goodbye to her. Rest in peace Eleyamma xx
P&S